Samsung recently announced that it has begun mass producing the industry’s first 12-gigabit (Gb) LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, which has been optimized for enabling 5G and AI features in future smartphones.
Next-gen mobile memory technologies
The new mobile memory comes just five months after announcing mass production of the 12GB LPDDR4X, further reinforcing the company’s premium memory lineup. Samsung also plans to start mass producing 12-gigabyte (GB) LPDDR5 packages later this month, each combining eight of the 12Gb chips, in line with growing demand for higher smartphone performance and capacity from premium smartphone manufacturers.
“With mass production of the 12 Gb LPDDR5 built on Samsung’s latest second-generation 10-nanometer (nm) class process, we are thrilled to be supporting the timely launch of 5G flagship smartphones for our customers worldwide,” said Jung-bae Lee, executive vice president of DRAM Product & Technology, Samsung Electronics. “Samsung remains committed to rapidly introducing next-generation mobile memory technologies that deliver greater performance and higher capacity, as we continue to aggressively drive growth of the premium memory market.”
Thanks to its industry-leading speed and power efficiency, Samsung’s new mobile DRAM can enable next-generation flagship smartphones to fully leverage 5G and AI capabilities like ultra-high-definition video recording and machine learning, while greatly extending the battery life.
5,500 megabits per second
At a data rate of 5,500 megabits per second (Mb/s), the 12Gb LPDDR5 is approximately 1.3 times faster than previous mobile memory (LPDDR4X, 4266 Mb/s) that is found in today’s high-end smartphones. When made into a 12GB package, the LPDDR5 is able to transfer 44 GB of data, or about 12 full-HD (3.7 GB-sized) movies, in only a second. The new chip also uses up to 30 percent less power than its predecessor by integrating a new circuit design with enhanced clocking, training and low-power feature that ensures stable performance even when operating at a blazingly fast speed.
| Date | Capacity | Mobile DRAM |
| July 2019 | 12 GB | 10 nm-class 12 Gb LPDDR5, 5500 Mb/s |
| June 2019 | 6 GB | 10 nm-class 12 Gb LPDDR5, 5500 Mb/s |
| Feb. 2019 | 12 GB | 10 nm-class 16 Gb LPDDR4X, 4266 Mb/s |
| April 2018 | 8 GB (development) | 10 nm-class 8 Gb LPDDR5, 6400 Mb/s |
| Sept. 2016 | 8 GB | 10 nm-class 16 Gb LPDDR4X, 4266 Mb/s |
| Aug. 2015 | 6 GB | 20 nm 12 Gb LPDDR4, 4266 Mb/s |
| Dec. 2014 | 4 GB | 20 nm 8 Gb LPDDR4, 3200 Mb/s |
| Sept. 2014 | 3 GB | 20 nm 6 Gb LPDDR3, 2133 Mb/s |
| Nov. 2013 | 3 GB | 20 nm-class 6 Gb LPDDR3, 2133 Mb/s |
| July 2013 | 3 GB | 20 nm-class 4 Gb LPDDR3, 2133 Mb/s |
| April 2013 | 2 GB | 20 nm-class 4 Gb LPDDR3, 2133 Mb/s |
| Aug. 2012 | 2 GB | 30 nm-class 4 Gb LPDDR3, 1600 Mb/s |
| 2011 | 1/2 GB | 30 nm-class 4 Gb LPDDR2, 1066 Mb/s |
| 2010 | 512 MB | 40 nm-class 2 Gb MDDR, 400 Mb/s |
| 2009 | 256 MB | 50 nm-class 1 Gb MDDR, 400 Mb/s |
In order to manage production capacity with more flexibility, Samsung is considering transferring its 12Gb LPDDR5 production to its Pyeongtaek (Korea) campus starting next year, depending on demand from global customers. Following its introduction of the 12 Gb LPDDR5 mobile DRAM, Samsung expects to also develop a 16 Gb LPDDR5 next year, to solidify its competitive edge in the global memory market.
